Poems, new and selected by Charles Simic

Thursday

May 9, 2013 at 3:15 AM

PORTSMOUTH — RiverRun Bookstore will host former U.S. poet laureate Charles Simic on Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at the South Church, to celebrate the recent release of his book, New and Selected Poems: 1962- 2012.

About the event:

For over 50 years, Simic has been widely celebrated for his brilliant and innovative poetic imagery, his sardonic wit, and a voice all his own. He has been awarded nearly every major literary prize for his poetry, including a Pulitzer and a MacArthur grant, in addition to serving as the poet laureate of the United States in 2007 and 2008.

In this new volume, he distills his life’s work, combining for the first time the best of his early poems with his later works — including nearly three dozen revisions — along with seventeen new, never-before-published poems. Simic’s body of work draws inspiration from a range of topics, from the inscrutability of ordinary life to American blues, from folktales to marriage and war.

Consistently exciting and unexpected, the nearly four hundred poems in this volume represent the best of one of America’s most distinguished and original poets.

After the event, Simic will sign books for the attendees.

The $5 ticket can be redeemed for $5 in credit toward the purchase of one of Mr. Simic’s books. (One ticket per book, please.) We hand out the tickets the night of the event, when you check in at the door.

Tickets may be purchased at http://riverrunpresentscharlessimic.eventbrite.com.

If you would like to avoid the fees, you can also purchase tickets by calling RiverRun Bookstore at 603-431-2100.

The South Church is located at 292 State Street in downtown Portsmouth.

RiverRun Bookstore is located at 142 Fleet St. in downtown Portsmouth. The store hosts more than 150 events each year. For details, call 603-431-2100 or visit www.riverrunbookstore.com.

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